Whistler Winter 2013 - help!
I personally think it’s worthwhile being there for the Job Fair. At least you have more peace of mind. $6K will go a long way if you’re smart with your money.
Damn this is making me so excited, now we play the waiting game for applications to open.
All good advice! Not sure if i should go earlier (late sept) with 6 K or wait and earn a little more?
So many options!!
Still a lot of time between now and September to save more money.
Tips for saving:
1. Are you living out of home? Might be time to move back (where applicable) and deal with the parents or on a friends couch for cheap for a few months. You’ll have to move out soon enough anyway, why not now
2. Calculate your income. Go onto your netbank and setup an auto-transfer from your ATM card to your savings account for 10% of your wage. If you get $1500 a fortnight, put in $150 a fortnight into savings (Mine is the next morning once I get paid). You’ll not notice it gone and your savings account will slowly rise. If you do move home or onto someones couch, put that extra rent you were paying on top of the 10% and now you’re actually saving money.
3. Stop eating out at restaurants. For lunch while you work or for dinner. Start smashing the 2 minute noodles and instant coffee now so that when you’re living in the snow you can live for longer without needing to bust the Ramen as often lol.
Remember that $3 a day on coffees from a coffee shop is $15 a work week. $10 on food is $50 a week compared to $2.17 for a 10 pack of woolies chicken noodles. Now still mix it up and have different stuff but that’s the cheapest I’ve been able to do for a week when I’m in super saver mode.
4. Try to minimise alcohol consumption. And pre-drink if you are going out. Lowering your tolerance will lessen the amount that you drink while at the snow to get a buzz anyway and the amount you can save by not going out is huge. 1x $100 night (10-12 drinks) is going to be about a day worth of work in Canada before tax. Remember that our minimum wage is a lot higher and the exchange rate means you’re better off saving here and spending there. If you have a good job here, you’ll notice the difference once you get a snow job over there.
5. Step up the improv work. Know how to referee a sport from when you were a kid? go see if you can pick up a few games in your spare time. I used to ref basketball and that’s $15 for an hour of excersize when I can be bothered. And they will gladly have me if I’m keen. Work in IT, offer to fix some computers for family or friends for $25 or $50 depending what you are doing for them. Maybe baby sit for a friend or relative so they can go out for a date?
6. Try to minimise travel costs. If you own a V8, maybe sell it and start taking public transport? borrow the parents car more? Rip out the old push bike or skateboard? At least the leg work out will help you when you start your season and you’re legs aren’t ready.
7. DON’T BUY SNOW GEAR HERE. Buy your stuff when you arrive in Canada. Our sales are still worse than their normal start of season prices. Just wait and see. If you have to rent or borrow some gear for the first few days / weeks till you find what you want then deal with it 
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Now I know I come across as stingy in this post but these are my best tips for saving money. I do not normally live like this, I did most of these when I was in a jam as I had booked a trip to Japan and just bought a new motorbike and therefore was absolutely broke and about to go overseas.
Apart from #2. That trick is amazing and everyone should do it.
Nice tips TJ!
All great tips, but!!
I’m a student and currently unemployed (ive got some job interviews for full time work lined up so hopefully will be earning by late june)
I budget very well now, on about 40 dollars a week eating rice, oats, fruit, vegetables, coffee and mince (i love it anyway)
I think I might stop drinking every weekend for a few months which will save me a few hundred too!
Hmmm but are you living out of home???
If going home is not an option (ie parents live interstate or not a commutable distance to work) think about moving into a share room (you will most likely be sharing in Whistler so may as well get used to it!)
Heaps of student housing have share rooms.
Hmmm but are you living out of home???
If going home is not an option (ie parents live interstate or not a commutable distance to work) think about moving into a share room (you will most likely be sharing in Whistler so may as well get used to it!)
Heaps of student housing have share rooms.
Yeah i cant move home (its 6 hours away from uni + my parents are living overseas)
I might start looking for a cheaper share room to save a bit extra
Now I know I come across as stingy in this post but these are my best tips for saving money. I do not normally live like this, I did most of these when I was in a jam as I had booked a trip to Japan and just bought a new motorbike and therefore was absolutely broke and about to go overseas.
What is wrong with living stingy? I’m not afraid to say that I LOVE it! I get to do more of what I want to do (snowboarding) and work less. (win-win!)
That would be my number one tip - try to firmly sort out your necessities from your wants. Lower your standards. A few packets of 2 minute noodles, a couple of smal tins of tuna (pole-and-line caught - I may be stingy but I’m not an ignorant asshole) and frozen veges chucked in a fry pan is an awesome dinner (and lunch the next day if you’re smart!)
I have always used the Pique for accommodation. I know people also use craigslist.
http://classifieds.piquenewsmagazine.com/whistler/long-term-accommodation/search
Staff housing will definitely be cheaper, and if you are travelling with someone you guys are pretty much guaranteed your own room to share.
Personally, Glacier would be my last choice as well. They do have a lot of fun there though (party central). The ride in, ride out situation is also a plus.
So over the last few days i have been speaking with my friends back home (i live away), and one of them who is going to work in perisher this season said he wants to go to whistler too, so there is 2 of us at this point, maybe even a third, is there anyway to get accommodation together if everything goes to plan with the job fair?
Assuming they all get jobs with Whistler Blackcomb, then yes, I think it’s possible. However, they won’t put anyone in staff housing (during the winter season) unless they are working for Whistler Blackcomb. I am fairly certain they will put you with your friends if you request it.
You should call or email HOUSE to ask them for sure. All the contact details are here: http://www.whistlerblackcomb.com/employment/staff-housing-and-registration/index.aspx
Celebratory post because my visa approval letter came through in only about 2 weeks!
So much for a 2 month turn around?! Anyone else had this kind of luck?
i wish! 
mine seems to be taking forever. no news either way yet
Celebratory post because my visa approval letter came through in only about 2 weeks!
So much for a 2 month turn around?! Anyone else had this kind of luck?
Congrats Steve! 
I havent applied for any sort of visas yet but both my aus and UK passport came through in under three weeks, that was a huge surprise 
My UK passport was about 2 weeks as well, really stoked
Looking at the interview processes for snow school, is it similar for other operational positions?
If you are shortlisted for a Snow School interview, there are 3 interview types offered (see list below), please outline in your cover letter which you would prefer.
1-Skype interview (You must include your Skype ID in your cover letter).
2-Telephone interview (You must include the best phone number to call you, in your cover letter).
3-In-person, in Whistler (outline on your cover letter that you are in town).